Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-12

!, 1SS7-DOUBLE SHE
IN THE HEART OF AFRICA.
Lieut.. Taunt's Account Of HIS Expe-
ditiOn Up the Congo.
THE NOISY HOSTILITY or THE NATIvEs-HoRRIBIE
BoLOBo.
81 left the O. 8. flagship Lancaster at Banana
Point tAfrlca3 Oh May 2, 1885," says Lieut.. Emory
Il. Taunt, In a report to the Navy department OF
his six months expbring expedition on the river
Congo, ''and in company with DR.. Ralph Leslie OF
the Congo state, started for Bona on board the
small steamer Vile dAnvers, belonging TO the
State. At Bona we spent the night, and leaving
early next morning arrived at vivi, the heal
quarters OF the Congo State about midday on the
4th. My first camp was at the native village OF
APallabolla- Twas received in state by the old
king, kamkanpaga, and given comfortable hut
to sleep in. Leaving M'Pallabolla on the morning
OF the 10th, reached Lukungo Station on May
18th. Here my native caravan refused to go on
until rested. was therefore obliged to lay over
until the 18th instant On this date left Lukungo
ana the same evening arrived at NGombe, or
south Manyanga Station, on the south bank OF
the Congo, with the station OF North Many anga
opposite on the north bank.
vases sr had sm
before: but, with the exception OF some armed
natives lurking in the long grass saw no signs
change my caravan, but fortunately was able to
engage men to carry me TO the Pool.
ieIt Lutete on the afternoon OF June 5. On
Stanley. This steamer was for use on the Upper
river and was being transported by sections to
Stanley Pool Each section was Transported on
large iron-wheeled truck that required about 80
men to handle. Some fourteen months had
already been occupied in the work OF transporta-
ton, AT an immense cost to the state. The adj
vance sections OF the steamer were about three
hourss march ahead OF the rear ones At midday
on June arrived at Leopoldville station, stan
ley Pool, having taken twenty three DAYS fnclud-
ing six days delay at stations to travel distance
OF about 236 miles over mountainous, rocky,
barren country.
IN THE CANNrBAL COUNTRY.
We had up to this point kept to the south bank
OF the river but as Bangala, the next station, was
on the north bank. we crossed to the north bank,
and reached Bangala On the morning OF July 30
We were now in the cann1bal country, and rugged
launch IN the next 600 miles We rne 1nH We woud
ind no white men, our first and last station, be.
yond Bangala, being the one at Stanley Falls.
Below Baugala we had seen no signs OF hostility
on the part OF the natives, but we now met an en-
tireiy different race OF people, suspicious savage
and hostile. Leaving Bangala On the morning OF
station, and about mile below large village,
the people OF which, thinking we had come 10
fight, sent their women to the islands, and then
they were waiting for us. Nothing would re-
assure them and they were around us all night In
next moTnng
with spears, knives, bows and poisoned arrows,
and rugged out in war bOnnets. AT 80 I'm. the
Tkelengo,' and slowed down 10 buy iood. The
people declined to sell unless We ran to the beach.
This would not do. for In case OF trouble could
INV Is, ibnv& sSfrl.f TVsH
Loangos were useless, and they would not resort
to fre arms except In the last extremity. We
steamed ahead and tied up about pun, some
canoes astern OF US. but after a warning
they drew OIL. ! posted my Zanzibari ana
two two Others to watch during the night At day:
some talk with the guide they came alongside
when found that they had eight fiint-lock guns
in possession OF the natives until reached Stan
ley Falls. About noon On the 7th We ran up u
the town OF MPesa OF the IrengO district Thi.
town was protected by a strong bona lpaltSade
about 80 1eet high, and evidently but recently
erected. There were no women in sight, and the
men were in war costume and fully armed. The
greater part OF the town had been burned and cap
tured u Few days before our arrival
NOISY RECEPTION.
At 2:30 pm. on August 18th, we ran up opposite
the large village of .Mononger. To our surprist
we We're greeted with yells, war-drums, war-horns
&C. The men were armed to the teeth with knives
ances, were frantic with rage took my guns out
and placed them In full sight, but at this they only
Increased their uproar. Finding that We were
Of fear, rushed waistdeep into the water TO throw
their spears, and as we passed the town Others
launched their canoes to follow, many running
along the banks Three hours we were steaming
In the narrow channel, and In that time passed
several small and two large villages; all OF these
and Wardrums from Below. The oiS IN Of the seiis
mingled with the drums and horns, was something
terrimc Tor each village in turn had contributed
to the number OF yelling savages that followed Us
After passing the last town calculated that we
were followed by from two to three hundred men,
some In canoes and the Others running
I found that we were running shor,
of wood, and I knew that IL we were Obliged
TO anchor in the channel it would be q hard light
all night. and a harder one in the morning wneI
we attempted to land for wood. Fortunately
however, about pm. We ran out Into the river
having just one-half hours wood left on board
and anchored in lee Of one OF the many Islands OF
the Congo. II came on to blow hard, with rain
about pm, and did not think the canoes would
running In the river. Shortly after pm, to oul
surprise, we were again greeted with yells an(
war-horns, and 1 found that we were surrounded
by from ten to twenty war-canoes filled with men
It was some time before we drove them on, anC
they finally took refuge on the islands near us WI
could hear them all night, but they drew OF a
daylight. From the ArroOwtmt to Stanley Fall!
the natives were living in canoes. The villages OF
both banks had been burned by the Arabs In thu
spring, ana IN Only rev instances had the people
commenced rebuilding. We had no more trouble
with the natives, but were inconvenienced cOnstd
erably by not being able to buy food for the men
AT STANLEY FALLS.
We arrived at Stanley Falls station on the after
noon OF August 20, having made the trip from Stan
ley Pool to Stanley Falls, distance OF LOOK
miles, in forty-eight days, including stoppages al
the different stations below Bangala. / was re
ceived very kindly by the two Swedish lieutenant:
in charge OF the station, and offered every assist
ance."
Lieut.. Taunt says: 81 am the only representa-.
tive of any government, other than the Congo
State. and am one OF the thirteen white men who
have been able to penetrate to Stanley Fails.
THE CONGO NATIVES.
The Congo valley from Banana to Stanley Poo
is but thinly populated, particularly along the
river banks. Above Stanley Pool, and especially
above Bangala the country Is thickly populated
with large flourishing villages. Between the
ARROW uni river and Stanley Falls the country
1855, the people We're commencing to rebuild
The BaSkungaS, or natives OF the Lower Congo
valley are q weak, tnd0lent, SuperstitiOuS race
and cannot be compared either in physiQue or in
teliigence With the races or the upper Congo They
rely for protection on their fetch charms and the
medcinemen OF the tribes have great influence
On the death OF any person OF note in the village
the poison test is used.
THE MEDICINE NAN
designates the man or woman suspected OF caus
ing the death, by charms OF witchcraft. The
poison is administered, and II it acts as an
trary, 1T kills, The guilty one Is punished In some
instances the laws OF the BaskungaS are very
stringent Stealing from each other Is punished
by death. Fighting or disorder in the market places
punishment is death. The market place, which
usually covers some acres OF ground Is used as the